Cigar-brushing machine



p 24, K. LYLE 1,729,073

CIGAR BRUSHING MACHINE Filed Dec. 50, 1927 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KENNETH LYLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS SIGNOR TO BAYUK CIGARS INCORPORATED, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF MARY- LAND CIGAR-BRUSHING MACHINE This invention relates to a machine adapted to remove objectionable matter from'the surface of a cigar.

It is found that when cigars are stored for a time there appears on the surface a growth of fungus consisting of a powder which, while harmless, gives the cigars an obj ectionable appearance. Heretofore, it has been customary to brush this material from the surface of the cigar by hand, and an object of the present invention is the provision of a machine of simple character which will effectively and rapidly remove such material from the surfaces of cigars, since the hand operation is necessarily slow, requiring a rotation of the cigar to effect a complete brushing.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the machine taken through the cigar guiding means; and

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the machine with the part of the guiding frame broken away.

In the drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, there are shown frame members 2 and 4, suitably secured to a table or other support, connected together by means of horizontally extending rods 6 on which is mounted, by means of bosses 8 and 10, a movable frame 12 which may be adjusted along the rods 6 and held in a desired adjusted position by means of a wing nut 14. Frame 12 is provided with a flaring guide mouth 16, through which cigars may be guided into contact with suitably placed brushes.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 2 and 3,

there are two sets of brushes 18 provided in the improved mechanism supported by down- Wardly extending members 20, carried by frame 12. Each set of brushes 18 consists of four brushes located as shown in Fig. 3

and rotatably mounted in depending members 20, the axes occupying positions at the corners of squares leaving central openings between the brushes through which a cigar may be moved, the brushes being set close enough together to-cause a contact of the bristles thereof with the cigar. Members 20 are suitably apertured to provide for the passage of the cigar. I

Extending horizontally between frame members 2 and 4 and rotatably mounted therein, are pairs of brushes '22 and'24, each pair consisting of an upper and a lowerbrush geared together through pinions 26 and 28, brushes 22 extending through frame-12 between the guide mouth thereof andthe adj acent group of brushes 18, while the second pair of brushes 24 extend betweenthe two groups of brushes 18. Any suitable meansmaybe provided'for rotating brushes 22 and 24, and as shown, a pulley 30 is secured to the shaft of lower brush 22, upper brush 22 carrying on the shaft thereof a sprocket wheel 32 which is connected to a sprocket wheel 34: secured on the shaftof upper brush 24 by means of a chain 36. Any suitable source of power may drive pulley 30 and from the connectionjust described, brushes 22and24.

As shown in the drawings, it is desirable to rotate brushes 22 and 24 at different speeds, and hence sprocket wheel 32 is larger than sprocket wheel 3 1 whereby a differential feed of the cigar 40 by the brushes issecured.

In operation, a cigar 10 may be introduced into guide mouth 16 until it is engaged by the so bristles of brush 22 whereby it is'yieldingly fed without crushing through the center of thefirst group of brushes 18, thence between brushes 24 and through the center of the sec- 0nd group of brushes '18, after which it is discharged from the machine. "By providing' brushes having light bristles, a' slight brushingaction is given to the cigar, which effectively removes any objectionable surface materialr It will be observed brushes 18 are stationary during the brush ing of a cigar, their pivotal mounting being primarily for the purpose of moving them to positions to present new bristles to the cigars when the old ones have become worn. To present new bristles of brushes 22 and 24 to cigars it is only necessary to adjust frame 12 along horizontal members 6.

While there has been described a machine which is found to effectively remove all surface adhering matter from a cigar, it Will be obvious, of course, that some of the brushes may be removed or that rotatably mounted brushes 18 might be replaced by stationary brushes of other shape. It'Wlll also be ob vious that one pair of brushes 22 may be sufficient to feed a cigar through the machine,

although it is desirable to-provide a pair of brushes such as shown, in order to insure a thorough brushing of the surface of the cigar.

The differential rotation of brushes 22 and 24 insures relative movement of the brushes and the cigar during its passage through'the machine. might be produced by driving brushes 22 faster than brushes 24, it is desirable to drive the brushes 24 at a'greater rate of 'speedsince the machine is thereby cleared of a cigar priorv to the passage of another cigar therethrough, thus preventing contact of successive cigars.

What is claimed is 1.- A machine for brushingcigars includinga brush, and means for relatively moving the cigar and brush duringicontact withieach other.

'2. A machine for brushing cigars including: a brush,and means for moving a clgar longr- While such differential movementthat of the other pair to brush a cigar fed thereto.

9. A machine for brushing cigars including a brush, and means for guiding a cigar into contact with the brush, said guiding means and brush being relatively adjustable whereby selected portions of the brush may be subjected to contact with a guided cigar.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this 28th day of Dec., 1927.

KENNETH LYLE.

tudinally; past'saidbrush during contact therewith.

3.-A machine for brushing cigars including 5 .9

a brush and yielding means-for moving cigar past said brush and in contact there-::-

with,

4. A- machine for brushingcigars including. a brush and means for moving aclgar past said brush and in contact therewithysaid means including a rotating brush.

5. A machine for brushing-cigars includinga plurality of rotating brushes arranged to feed a cigar therebetween.

6. ;-A machine for brushing cigars including a stationary brush,-and a plurality of rotatingbrushes arranged to-feeda cigar therebetween past. and in contact with the station'-.

ary brush.

and meansfor guiding the cigar into'proper' engagement by the: brushes. I

8. A machine for brushingcigars includinga'plurality of pairs of rotating brushes, one

pair being driven at a speed different from 

